L O N 
the expedition, retreat, and death, of Sr John Moore, 
*nd other topics already fitted by the ingenuity of the 
oppofition. — Lord Grenville propofed an amendment, 
wiihing that, without delay, rigorous and effectual inqui¬ 
ries and proceedings fliould be inftituted refpe<5tively to the 
campaigns in Spain and Portugal, and other parts of Europe. 
In the debates on the fubjecl, lord Harrowby, the lords 
Moira, Sidmouth. Mulgrave, Grey, and feveral noble 
fpeakers, took an able and manly part.—Lord Liverpool 
snfwered with clearnefs, moderation, and tlrength ; and, 
refpefting the expedition to the Scheldt, faid moft point¬ 
edly? “ Some noble lords have urged, that the deftrmffion 
of Flufhing was an achievement of no importance, and 
as luch confidered by the ruler of France. I would alk 
thofe noble lords, whether, if the cafe could be reverfed, 
and a French fleet were to attack and deffroy Sheernefs, 
and afterwards make good their retreat, it would be con- ( 
fidered by Bonaparte as a fmall triumph, or by us as a ’ 
trifling defeat ?”■—'The houfe divided on lord Grenville’s 
amendment: forthe amendment, 92? for the addrefs, 144. 
In the houfe of commons, the debates upon the addrefs 
were nearly a fac fimile of what had pafled in the upper 
houfe, and met the fame fate.—Thefe eloquent and learned 
difcuffions are, we doubt not, produdive of much even¬ 
tual good, in bringing before the public eye certain par¬ 
ticulars, which, were it not for them, would remain for 
ever concealed under the minifterial veil. 
Grateful for the military achievements, for the prudence, 
fkill, and courage, of lord Wellington, the houle of lords 
refounded with the praife of this able commander; and, 
notwithflanding fome previous obfervations from lord 
Grey, the earl of Liverpool, on the 26th of January, 
moved the thanks of the houfe to this brave defender of 
our Spanifli and Portuguefe allies. After oppofitions and 
fupports, explanations and retorting arguments, the mo- 
ticn-of thanks was carried without a divifion.—In this as 
in the laft inltance, the debates in the houfe of commons 
were a mere repetition of what had been urged in the other 
houfe ; and confequently the noble lord who commanded 
the army at Talavera, and his co-operators, the officers, 
non-commiffioned officers, and privates, all thofe who had 
fliared the dangers, fliared alfo the unanimous thanks of 
their country in the Britifii fenate. 
On the 29th of January, lord Cochrane role in the houfe 
of commons, and moved, “ that there be laid before the 
houfe a copy of the minutes of the trial of admiral Gam- 
bier, on the 23d of July, 1809 ; alfo the original minutes 
taken day by day, by the deputy judge-advocate.”—-This 
motion originated from a conviction that the miniftry in¬ 
tended to bring in a vote of thanks to lord Gambier, in 
both houles of parliament, for the victory jin the Bafque 
Roads. After molt animated debates, lord Cochrane’s 
motion was negatived ; and the thanks of the houle were 
voted, on a divifion to lord Gambier, and unaniinoufly 
to the officers, as well as acknowledgments to the feamen 
and marines, who had given convincing proofs of their 
undaunted courage on the occalio.ri. 
We have next a retrofpeffive view of the affair of the 
Scheldt; an unfortunate expedition, the failure of which 
was diverfely attributed to different caufes, as the mem¬ 
bers who fpoke on the fubject were refpeCfively aftefted. 
•—Lord Porcheffer made the motion for an inquiry, which, 
after oppofitions and debates, was carried by a fmall ma¬ 
jority. As it would be ufelefs and uninterelHng to our 
readers to go over again all that has been laid and printed 
on this bulinefs, we muff confine ourfelves to the mere 
ifatement, that, on the motion of lord Porcheffer, a fe- 
cret committee was appointed to infpeCt the papers and 
communications relative to the expedition.—In the courfe 
of this infpeftion, a narrative of the expedition to the 
Scheldt, fig,ned by lord Chatham, and prefented to his ma- 
jefty without the intervention of any refponlible minilter, 
was found among the papers. This irregular proceeding 
arou.fed the indignation of many : and motions upon mo¬ 
tions were made to addrefs his in.ucltv oil the fubject. 
Vol. XIII, No. 90.1. 
DON. 21? 
Tliis paper was produced on the 19th of February, upon 
motion of general Loft: it was entitled, “Copy of the 
Earl of Chatham’s Statement of his Proceedings, dated 
15th of October 1809 prefented to the king 14th of Fe¬ 
bruary, 3810.” The date of its prefentation to the king 
was much noticed. It bote date only on the 14th inti, 
although it had been two or three months ago announced, 
in the newfpapers known or fnppofed to have fome under. 
Handing with the miniltry, that lord Chatham had pre¬ 
fented a narrative of this description to his majeffy. The 
objections which lord Folkeffone had to this paper, on ac¬ 
count of the manner in which it had been prefented to 
his majeffy, were confid.erably aggravated by a knowledge 
of its contents. It appeared to be a fpeciai addrefs from 
the commander of one part of the expedition, appealing' 
to the judgment of his majeffy, and aClually reflecting 
upon the condufi of his colleague in the command. He 
really did not know how the houfe fliould proceed, in or¬ 
der to get rid of fuch a paper; but it Teemed highly de¬ 
finable that it fiiould do fo. To entertain fuch a docu¬ 
ment, would not only be incqnfiftent with the conftitu- 
tion, but, in his opinion, with common juffice. He would 
be glad to hear from the chair, in what manner it could 
be difpofed of. 
After feveral members had fpoken, the Speaker, having 
been appealed to, rofe, and faid, that he trulted the houfe 
would not be-furprifed at his delay in giving his opinion. 
On his firff opening the narrative before them, and find¬ 
ing the name of Chatham, he was doubtful whether it 
ought to be received and acknowledged by that houfe, on 
account of its not bearing the fignature of any of his 
majefty’s fecretaries of llate. But, confidering by whom 
it was prefented, he waved his doubts until lie fent for 
fome papers. On perufmg thefe, lie found that lord North 
had prefented feveral fimilar papers, and that he was con- 
fidered to be prima facie accountable ; a circumffance 
which, in his opinion, left the houfe at full liberty to 
difeufs the merits of the narrative. The Chancellor of 
the Exchequer then moved, that it fiiould be referred to 
the committee of the whole houfe on the expedition to 
the Scheldt; which was agreed to. The order of the day 
being then read, for the houfe going into a committee on 
the expedition to the Scheldt; they proceeded in the courfe 
of inquiry, on which they had entered the 2d of February, 
and which was continued through various adjournments, 
to the 15th of March. The fittings of the committee, 
employed in the examination of witnefles, were in num¬ 
ber eighteen. The principal fubjefts, to which the in¬ 
quiry was direiffed, were, the policy or defign and views 
of the expedition ; the manner in which it was conducted j 
and the evacuation of YValcheren. 
Among the witnefles examined was, of courfe, lord 
Chatham hirofflf; and he was repeatedly allied, whether 
he had, on any former occafion, prefented to his majeffy 
any other narrative, paper, memorandum, or memorial, re¬ 
flecting the expedition to the Scheldt ; but tie declined to 
give any anfwer. This circumffance excited a ltrong fuf- 
picion, that the noble lord had actually prefented to his 
majeffy fome luch document. Mr. Whitbread, there¬ 
fore, on the 23d of February, moved, “ that an humble 
addrefs be prefented to his majeffy, praying that he would 
be gracioutty pleafed to order, that there be iaid before 
the houfe, copies of all reports, memoranda, narratives, 
or papers, fu'omitted at any time to his majeffy, by the 
earl of Chatham, relative to the late expedition.” 
Mr. Secretary Ryder was perfuaded, that the prefent 
motion was wholly without example. For, even fuppof- 
ing that fuch a paper as that delcribed did actually exiff, 
as it had never been communicated to his majeity’s mi¬ 
ni llers, he did not know in what office to fearch for it, 
nor could he underftand what reply they could poffibly 
ad vhe Ids majeff y to make to an addrefs from the houfe or 
commons under fuch circumltauces. 
Mr. Ponfanby, adverting to the declaration of Mr. Ry¬ 
der, that lie did not know where to look for fuch 3 paper, 
i fw laid. 
